
This piece was commissioned by Chicago Public Radio's "Third Coast International Audio Festival." It was one of four "short-docs" on the topic of thirst that were featured at the festival. So far, this story has only "aired" on the Third Coast website. Other, longer, versions of it are in the works.
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Review of X-Towni lived in western massachusetts for a number of years and read, saw and listened to a number of pieces about the "lost towns of the quabbin." this was one of the best. it has a great mix of voices, and i did like sean's reflection on the price that folks out there had to pay so he can drink his tap water today so many miles away. one thing i did find lacking was a journey to the place - would have loved to hear a tour of one of the "dirt holes" with a former resident or a walk down one of the old roads. but perhaps that's to come in one of the longer pieces now in the works. looking forward to them. |
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Review of X-TownI heard this piece at the 3rd coast festival - I remember it moved me. I'm surprised to say this "private" listening moved me further. It is a "report", but Cole flashes his personal passport to tell the story right from the top: the water HE uses, in HIS town, the water HE wastes comes from the sacrifice of those he asks to tell the story. It makes your ears open wide, right up front. It makes you trust the narrator.
I would be glad of a longer version. I could have listened longer to these people wrassle with the conflict, the nostalgia and the sorrow. This is an evergreen piece, but especially meaningful around any issue about the planet. Nice work.
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X-TOWN/COLE ? 9-7-03
Track 1 ? THE QUABBIN RESERVOIR SERVES 46 CITIES AND TOWNS IN MASSACHUSETTS, MOSTLY IN THE BOSTON AREA. ON AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THOSE CITIES AND TOWNS... NUMBER ONE IS ARLINGTON... WHERE I HAPPEN TO LIVE.
[SFX: WATER TURNING ON IN MY BATHROOM.]
Track 2 ? WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT 4 TOWNS WERE FLOODED TO BUILD THE RESERVOIR I IMAGINED A LITTLE ATLANTIS DOWN THERE... THAT THE WATER COURSED THROUGH SOME INTACT VILLAGE ON ITS WAY TO MY FAUCET. AND IT WAS KIND OF HAUNTING. BUT THE REALITY IS EVEN MORE HAUNTING, PARTICULARLY FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT USED TO LIVE IN THE TOWNS. AND THE LONGER THEY TALK ABOUT DANA, GREENWICH, PRESCOTT AND ENFIELD... THE MORE THE 4 TOWNS TEND TO MELD INTO ONE TOWN... AN IDYLLIC PLACE THEY CAN STILL REBUILD IN THEIR MINDS.
Ax 1 ? [MONTAGE ABOUT TOWNS.]
EARL: it was a very interesting little town.
BERTHA: I remember a Doub...
Read the full transcript
Song: Blumenwiese Neben Autobahn
Artist: Ulrich Schnauss
Album: Far Away Trains Passing By
Song: Lights Are Yellow and the Nights Are Slow
Artist: Dirty Three
Album: Praise! (Soundtrack)
Jill Kaufman
Posted on August 09, 2004 at 01:31 PM | Permalink
Review of X-Town
A great piece of history I knew nothing about. Living history. But this is NOT just a piece about loss. Which makes it all the more compelling to listen to. The people in X-Town solidly recognized the largeness of development, but you heard an excitment in their voices. Maybe a level of outrage,but also surprise that THIS COULD BE DONE. Sean's connection to his own water main made this personal to the reporter. Who could have been your or me. Solid writing and creative production. Definitely good for New England region, but also for anyone who is paying attention to the world. This could be where the Quabbin Resevoir meets the Three Gorges Dam.